BEST PRACTICES FOR DESCRIBE QUESTIONS

ALWAYS use bullet points and ITGS Key Terms in context to IDENTIFY and DESCRIBE each step in the process throughout your description.
Walk the examiner through the how the technology works. A step-by-step description of the processing that goes beyond the details provided in the stimulus material is required to move into the highest markband.
Pay close attention to Marks Possible, i.e. if a prompt asks to DESCRIBE how GPS works and is worth up to 14 marks then you should include at least 7 detailed steps in your response.
Ensure that all relevant components have been identified (input, storage, communications, networks, processing, output, software, hardware involved)
Avoid "magic steps" where multiple things happen at once i.e. "the RFID tag is read as it moves through a scanner and the bill total is calculated".

RESOURCES FOR EACH TOPIC

Topic	Ted Ed Lessons by IT System
3.1 Hardware (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/File:Hardware785.png)	Computer Touch screen Microphones Digital cameras CD-ROM LCD Monitor
3.2 Software (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Operating_system_placement_(software).svg)	Software (General) Applications Interfaces Web-based software Disk fragmentation ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) Open source versus Closed Source
3.3 Networks (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Social_Network_Analysis_Visualization.png)	Mainframe, supercomputers Internet VPN Routers, switches, hubs Cloud computing
3.4 Internet (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/File:Applications-internet.svg)	The Internet Search Engines
3.5 Personal and public communication (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/File:Communication_shannon-weaver2.svg)	Location Services Search History Tracking Protecting privacy with cell phones
3.6 Multimedia/digital media (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/File:Nuvola_apps_multimedia.png)	Data Compression Virtual Reality (VR) Video Editing Software
3.7 Databases (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/wiki/ File:Microservice_Databases_with_a_new_service.png)	Access Databases - Functions of Database What is a Database? A more thorough explanation Key Fields in Databases Data Mining
3.8 Spreadsheets, modeling and simulations (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Spreadsheet_animation.gif)	Types of Charts Functions: maths, text, logic, date Protections for sheets and workbooks, cell locking Models & Simulations Virtual Reality Graphics and Animations (2D, 3D) Augmented Reality
3.9 Introduction to project management	Look at the resources below.
3.10 IT systems in organizations (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Management_Process.png)	Enterprise Resource Planning PRINCE2 Systems Development Life Cycle Storage Area Networks Waterfall vs. Agile method of development VCF Files The Waterfall Method Cloud Computing Management information systems Alpha vs Beta testing Gantt Chart Agile vs Waterfall Phased and Parallel running Virtualization SSADM Integrated Development Environment
3.11 Robotics, artificial intelligence, and expert systems (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/File:Artificial.intelligence.jpg)	Lasers Machine Learning Sensors IBM Watson Drone Safety Expert Systems Ethical implications of robots Inference Engines Artificial Intelligence Industrial robots and how they work Robotic surgery Pattern recognition OCR Fuzzy Logic Controlling AI Android/Humanoid Neural Networks Machine Learning
May 2017 Paper 3 Case Study: Wearable Technologies (Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Apple_Watch-.jpg)	Wearable Tech Limitations and future goals in healthcare The future of wearable technology in healthcare What is Wearable Technology? Wearable Technology in Healthcare Impacts of wearable technology on humans in the future. Heartrate Monitors Benefits and Limitations of Wearable Technologies Wearable Technology in the Medical Sector How Wearable Technology is Changing Healthcare Concerns of Medical/Fitness Wearables Sensor insoles

Visit our YouTube Page HHS ITGS to find a playlist with tons of videos that'll help you learn more about technologies and how they work! Linked down below:

Relevant Articles (Tagged to Diigo using the DESCRIBE_How_It_Works tag):

Quizlets For Each Topic:

3.1: Hardware Computer System and Hardware Input and Output
3.3: Networks
3.4: Internet
3.6: Multimedia and Digital Media
3.7: Databases
3.8: Computer Models and Simulations
3.9: IT Systems in Organizations and more IT Systems in Organizations
3.11: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

EXAMPLES FROM PREVIOUS PAPERS

2016 Paper 1
2015 Paper 1

3D Printing
AGILE system of product development
Alpha vs. Beta testing
Gantt Charts
Sensors (all types)
Fuzzy logic
Machine learning
Decision trees

2014 Paper 1
2013 Paper 1
2012 Paper 1

DESCRIBE, step-by-step how the IT system works.
2015 Paper 2

IT system: using computer-based technologies and social networks.

2014 Paper 2

IT system: using cell / mobile / smart phones and online databases.

2013 Paper 2

IT system: using cloud computing services, manual sharing or automatic synchronization of information between portable systems, desktop systems, servers, and web-based services.

2012 Paper 2

IT system: using handheld computers, wireless network, and central databases.

2016 Paper 3
2015 Paper 3
2014 Paper 3
2013 Paper 3
2012 Paper 3

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

free Code Camp
BBC Bitesize GSCE ICT
Khan Academy Internet 101
Stanford CS101